Chapter 27
Two days later Alja made her way down to the entrance hall of the Krychek Business HQ for the first time since she'd arrived. As much as she loathed being stuck inside, she hadn't had a good excuse to go out and no desire to raise any more suspicions by leaving without apparent reason. But today she just had to get out, even if it was just an act of pure defiance.
The so called 'social event' was about to take place the next day and she'd just been informed by Silver that the occasion required formal wear. She hadn't really thought about what to expect – a company party perhaps – but she would not have guessed at something so fancy. Now it looked more like they were going to a gala dinner or something similar. That alone didn't matter much to Alja. She'd been trained for and involved in all kinds of social interaction during her missions among humans and changelings.
But Kaleb had sent Silver Mercant of all people to advise Alja on her outfit. The goddamn woman had shown up with her organizer full of digital fashion catalogues from which she should chose an outfit to order. So I might have kissed Silver… Neither her training nor the emotional advice from the NetMind had prepared her for the violent fits of jealousy she experienced whenever Kaleb's assistant appeared. Fully conscious she was overreacting in a way that would have put any ridiculous human or changeling soap opera to shame, she had refused Silver's offer and decided to go out and get something herself.
She had never cared much for fashion, jewelry or the like but she was woman enough to appreciate a little shopping. Something an assassin usually had very little time for. Now she wore her human disguise so she could vanish in the crowds of the city as soon as she left the building.
She never got as far.
When she crossed the hall, one of the guards stopped her. "Miss Dardo. I must ask you to stay inside."
"Excuse me?" Clipped words of a soldier despite the tumult inside her.
"You are not allowed to leave the building."
Oh come on! He's locking me up? Seriously? This just got better and better. She should never have agreed to this farce. "I was about to acquire something that is necessary in my work for the former Councilor." Somehow she still succeeded to put the expected frost in her voice and the other Psy would never guess that right at this moment angry spite started boiling in her guts.
"I am acting on his direct order. I was informed this is for your safety," the man answered completely impassive.
"Of course." Alja knew the guard was just doing his job and he wouldn't have gotten that position if there was any way to convince him to act against his orders. She had to come up with something else.
Even with the improved schedules she still had ways to get past the security but decided this wasn't worth giving up that secret. But she would make it a point to show she was not to be caged. So before she addressed the guard again, she let part of her consciousness slip into the Net and went looking for someone only an Arrow could find.
He answered to her telepathic knock at once.
Alja what is it?
Is my safe apartment in Barcelona still undisturbed and could you teleport there?